-
Japanese occupation ends with Soviet troops occupying area north of the 38th parallel, and US troops in the south.
-
North Korea's Communist Party inaugurated. Soviet-backed leadership installed, including Red Army-trained Kim Il-sung.
-
Democratic People's Republic of Korea proclaimed. Soviet troops withdraw.
-
South Korea declares independence, south sustained by crucial US military, economic and political support. Sparking North Korean invasion. North and South Korea are divided because they were colonized by different countries.
-
Armistice ends Korean War, which has cost two million lives.
-
Military coup puts General Park Chung-hee in power.
-
US intelligence-gathering vessel seized by North Korean gunboats.
-
After secret North-South talks, both sides seek to develop dialogue aimed at unification.
-
Martial law declared after student demonstrations. In the city of Kwangju at least 200 killed by the army, causing resentment that has yet to fade.
-
Constitution is changed to allow direct election of the president.
-
Olympic games in Seoul. First free parliamentary elections.
-
Korea in the United nations North and South Korea join the United Nations.
-
North Korea agrees to allow inspections by International Atomic Energy Agency .
-
Roh succeeded by Kim Young Sam, a former opponent of the regime and the first civilian president.
-
Death of Kim Il-sung. North Korea agrees to freeze nuclear programme
-
North Korean submarine runs aground in South, 11 crew found shot dead in apparent mass suicide and 13 killed by South Korean forces during massive search operation.
-
Famous HandshakeSummit in Pyongyang between Kim Jong-il and South Korean President Kim Dae-jung. North stops propaganda broadcasts against South.
-
South Korea gives amnesty to more than 3,500 prisoners.
-
One hundred North Koreans meet their relatives in the South in a highly-charged, emotional reunion.
-
North and South Korean naval vessels wage a gun battle in the Yellow Sea, the worst skirmish for three years. Some 30 North Korean and four South Korean sailors are killed.
-
Six-nation talks in Beijing on North Korea's nuclear programme fail to bridge gap between Washington and Pyongyang.
-
Prosecutors charge five people with spying for North Korea in the largest such case since the political reconciliation of the two Koreas in 2000.
-
Prime ministers from North and South Korea meet for the first time in 15 years.
-
North Korea launches a rocket carrying what it says is a communications satellite; its neighbours accuse it of testing long-range missile technology
-
Cross-border clash near disputed maritime border results in death of two South Korean marines. North Korea's military insists it did not open fire first and blames South Korea for the incident.
